Feeler-motion for looms.



BEST AV ILABL 'GQPX J. HENDRY.

PEELER MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1913 1,081,909. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

UNITED STATE$EEENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENDRY, "OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN'OR TD D ERAPER COMPANY,

' OF HOPEDALE, EAS'SKCHUSZET'BS, A CGBEQRATION OI MAINE.

:rnntmmomon nos LQOMS.

inst-e09.

Tooll whom e't may roncc m Be it known thatl, Joiin 'HENDR a citizen of'th'e United States, residing at Lawrenoe, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Peeler-Motions for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,

like letters on the drawings representing like parts p 'The invention to be hereinafter described relates to filling replenishing looms, where,- ina fresh supply of filling is furnished prior to complete exhaustion of that in the running shuttles, and more particularly the present invention has reference to the feeler motion of such looms.

As well known by those skilled in the art, feeler motion devices intermittently feel for the filling in the running shuttle, and when the desired or predetermined exhaustion of the filling has been reached, such devices are intended to cause or permitthcl operation of the filling replenishing mechanism. One of the. most serious objections encountered in the use of such devices is the waste of yarn or filling caused by. the operation of the filling replenishing mechanism and consequent ejectment of a filling carrier while there yet remains a considerable quantity of filling thereon. Moreover, such yarn or filling as remains upon the carrier when thus ejected must be removed prior to re- ,winding, thereby entailing further waste in labor cost, substantially in proportion to the amount of yarn or filling to be removed.

Various forms of feeler motions or filling exh austion indicating mechanisms have been devised, some of which have been employed in connection with a bunch wound upon the bobbin or carrier, others of which have depended for their operation upon contact with the bobbin itself, or a ring thereon, and some of .these have operated satisfactorily in their articular relations. In the patent to V. Rainville, No. 1,0ii0,409, dated October 8, 1912, forinstance, a feeler: motion is shown and described, which upon substantial exhaustion of the filling, acts upon a-xrib or abutment on the carrierv to cause operation of'the filling replenishing mechanism. It may sometimes happen,however, especially in certain forms of filling-wound bobbins or carriers, where for instance, the end of the filling wind is conical in form, that the bob- Speci'fioatMnpf'Icttvr hw PatentedDec. 16,-1913. Application filed April 28, 19$.- serial No. 763,987.

bin uremia may still have considerable yarn or fillin thereon sufiicient' for two or more pick's'o the shuttle, when the rib or projection on'the carrier is ready to actuate the feeler motion and under such conditions it is desirable that the feele-r motion should not cause operation of the filling replenishing mechanism.

The aims and purposes of the present invention are to provide a feeler motion for looms, wherein the parts are so related that a more perfect detection of filling exhaustion may be had, and the filling replenishing mechanism may be maintained inactive so long as the bobbin or carrier contains su'lhcient yarn or filling for the proper production of cloth, all of which will best be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings of one form of means for carrying the invention into practical effect, it bein understood that details may be varied wit iin the true scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan view of a filling feeler mechanism embodying the present invention, showin also part of a shuttle and filling carrier tierein, and parts of the shuttle box Fig. 2 is a section on the line -2.2, Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic view showing parts of the feeler mechanismacting upon a filling carrier,

while the carrier is-supplied with sutlicient 'filling for weaving purposes; Fig. 4 shows the relation of the parts of Fig. 3 when the filling has reached that degree of exhaustion at which replenishment is desirable; and Fig. 5 is an end view of the feeler mechanism looking from the left, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the shuttle 1 is or may be of usual character, provided with holding jaws 2 to engage the head. 3 of the removable filling carrier or bobbin 4. The front wall of the shuttle 1 has an opening or slot 5 through which the feeler device, to be def scribed, may enter in -usualananner, and similarly the front wall of the shuttle box (not shown) has an aperture with which. the

opening or slot. 5 may register when the shuttle is properly boxed at the feeling side {of the loom, all as usual and well under-- stood.

,Mounted upon the loom frame opposite theshuttle box 6 at the feeling side of the ,loom is a casing '1 adapted to support the feeler slide 8 in a manner to permit such said shank is a spring 11, one end of" which bears upon the shoulder 12 of the shank, and the other upon the opposite end portion of the casing, the construption being such that the spring normally holds the.

filling slide projected to the left, Fig. 2, but

- permits such slide to move longitudinally upon the-application of force, as will presently appear. The casing 7 may be held in place by any appropriate means, such as by the screws 13.

Extending along one side of the casing 7 is a guideway for the end portion of a transmitter 14, Figs. 1 and 2, such guideway being preferably formed by a slot 15 in a flange 16projecting from the casing 7 v The parts thus far described may jbe substantially as set forth in the patent to Rainville, No, 1,040,409, of October 8, 1912, and may be changed to suit conditions of use. Herein it will be understood that actuation of the transmitter 14 by the feeler mechanism to be described, is designed to cause filling replenishment, but .as such replenishing mechanism and the association therewith of he transmitter are well understoodby those skilled in the art, the details thereof are not illustrated herein.

The feeler slide 8 is extended toward the rear a: the loom or toward the shuttle-box and has a feeler head 17, the frontface 18 of which is cut away or beveled, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, to form a feeler toe or point 19 which, during the operation of the loom, is adapted to contact with the filling 20 on the bobbin or carrier 4, and by-virtu'e of its toe or pointed character to embed itself or sink into the filling mass. In the preferred form of the invention, as exemplified by the drawings, the feeler toe or point 19 is formed by cutting away the front face 18 of the feeler head diagonally from a point 21, Figs. 3 and 4, and removing any bur or other roughness on the toe or point 19 that might injure the yarn or filling.

It will be noted by reference to Figs." 3 and 4, that the fecler toe or point 19of the feelcr head will contact with the filling on the carrier opposite a cylindrical part of the bobbin or carrier rather than at or opposite a rib or projection 22, and that such feeler toe or a point 19 does not extend to any material demitter 14 when that end of-the detector is i depressed, 1 From its pivotal 'mountin 25 the detector 24 has a rearwardly-exten ing arm 27 carryin a dete'ctor head. I

The detector. cad is formed of two parts 28-and-29, Figs. 3 and 4, which may be mtegral or otherwise joinedri'gidly together. The part 28 is disposedat one side of the .feeler toe or point 19 and has an edge portion 30 in a plane slightly back of the end of the feeler toeor point,19. Thatis'to say, the edge portion 30 of the detector is slightly nearer the-front of the loom, than is the end of the toe or point 19, the construction being such that as the lay moves; forward, the filling mass onthecarrier will first meet-the toe on point 19, which, being under the influence of the spring '11, will sink into the yarn mass, Fig: 1, until the latter meets the edge30 of the head part 28, whereupon the detector will be turned 7 upon its pivotal mounting 25 to raise the shoulder 26, and the feeler slide .will then move toward the front of the loorn without actuating the transmitter 141 as will be readily understood. To limit the rising movement .of the shouldered portion of the detector, a. suitable stop may be employed. That illustrated comprises a spring finger 31 secured to the feeler slide 8 by means' of the screws 32, which may also serve to hold the lugs 23 in place. Should the yarn mass on the carrier, however, have become practically'exhausted, as indicated in and the latter will engage and actuate the transmitter 14 to initiate operative condition of the filling replenishing inechanism. It

will be noted in this connection that the feeler toe or point 19 does not contact with a rib or projection on the'bobbin or carrier, but engages the yarn or bobbin at a point closely adjacent to that which would be engaged by the edge 30 of the detector head if such engagement were possible. It will also be noted thatwhile the edge of the detector head is extended longitudinally of the bob-. bin or filling carrier, the feeler toe presents only a small area or point which will readily sink into. the mass 0 yarn load during normal operative conditions, but when the yarn or filling has become practically exhausted, as indicated at m, Fig. 4. the toe or point 19 cannot sink sufliciently far into the yarn or filling to permit contact of the de'tector head with such yarn or filling, and the filling replenishing operation is initiated as above indicated.

From the construction described it will be evident that should the bobbin or carrier be so wound that the yarn or filling will be entirely exhausted from. parts of the bobbin or'carrier beyond the initial windings at a: before the feeler mechanism acts, a minimum amount of yarn or filling may. be left uponthe bobbin or carrier when the filling replenishing meohanismejects the spent bobbin or carrier. It sometimes happens, however, especially here the bobbin or carrier is wound with conical endportions as indicated by Fig. 1, that considerable yarn or filling yet remains on the bobbin or carrier at some point beyond the initial winding even after the initial Winding at as has.

reached state of exhaustion that would cause the teeler mechanism to act in the absence of any means to prevent, even though there may yet remain at y sufficient yarn or filling for working purposes.

To the end that the feeler mechanism may detect the insufiicient exhaustion of the working yarn load under the conditions stated and thereupon. suspend the action of the replenishing mechanism, the detector head is provided with a portion 29 which extends in a general direction longitudinally of the bobbin or carrier to the side of the 'feeler toe or point 119 opposite the part 28, said part 29 being adapted to detect and act upon any service windingsas the lay beats up and lift the shouldered portion of the detector, so that as the feeler slide is pushed forward the transmitter will not be actuated. In the preferred form of this feature of the invention, the part 29, which for identification may be known as the vindicator head,

has an inclined edge portion 33 reaching from a point 34 back of the feeler toe 19 to a point 35 substantially in the plane of the edge 30 of the detector head 28, the construction being such, that should sufiicient yarn or filling be present for weaving purposes beyond. the initial windings at x as indicated in Fig. 3 at y, the part 29 of the detector head Will indicate the fact and tilt the detector in a manner to prevent the actuation of the transmitter 14 as the lay heats up, even though the exhaustion at the initial windings is such that the detector head 28 would not'be met by the windings at that point and consequentlynotbe tilted. It'W-ill'benoted that the .edg'e 33 of the indicator head 29 is inclined toward the bobbin or suing carrier from a point34, and

head will bridge oversuchribs'orrings'and feel for, any service windings thatma'ybxist, beyond, as indicated by Figs. 3 and-4..

,Thedetector head28 extends at one side of the feeler. toe 19', and in the form of'the invention shown, the indicator head extends therefrom'under the feeler head 17 to the opposite side, but it will be evident that the details -in these respects may be variously modified. 4 The detector normally stands with its shouldered portioii 26 in posi-, tion to engage the transmitter 14 should the feeler sli'de be moved to the right, Fig. 2, but when a Working supply of filling is present on the bobbin or fear rier the detector will be tilted, as indicated by Fig. 2, either by the detector head 28 or by the indicator head 29, asabove explained,

,so that on movement of the feeler slide to the right, Fig. 2, the transmitter let will not be actuated.

' hat is claimed is 1. In a feeler motion for filling replen+ ishi'ng looms, the combination'of a feeler slide having a feeler toe or point, a detector mounted on said slide and having a detector head at one side of said feeler toe or point and an indicator head at the opposite side of said toe or point.

2. In a feeler motion for filling replenishing looms, 'the combination of a feeler slide having a fceler toe, or point adapted to contact With and sink into the filling on the bobbin 'or filling carrier, a detector pivotally mounted on said slide and having a detector head at one side of said toe or point and an indicator head at the opposite side of said toe or point.

3 In a feeler motion for filling replenishing looms, the combination of a feeler slide having a feeler toe or point adapted to contact with and sink into the filling on the bobbin ,or filling carrier, a detector pivotally mounted on said slide and having a detector head at one side of said toe or point and an indicator'head at theopposite side of said toe or point,- said .feeler toe or point'being extended beyond the edges of the detector and indicator heads.

4c. In a feeler motion for filling replenishing looms, the combination of a feeler slide having a portion to contact with and sink into the filling on the carrier when there is a Working supply of filling opposite said portion. asdetector adapted to engage the filling 5. A feeler motion for filling replenishing looms, comprising in its construction, a feeler slide having a feeler toe or point adapted to contact with and sink into the filling on a carrier, a detector having a detectorhead' to contact with the filling on the,

carrier and tiltthe detector when the said feeler toe or point has sunk into a working supply of filling, and an indicator head to' indicate the presence of filling beyond the points where the detector head and toe act and to tilt the detector'when it fails to be tilted by the detector head and there yet remains a working supply of filling on the carrier.

6. A feeler motion for filling replenishing looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler slide having a feeler toe or point constructed and arranged to contact with and sink into the filling on a carrier, a detector having a detector head at one side of the feeler toe or point to contact with the filling on the carrier and'tilt the detector when the feeler toe has sunk into the filling, and an indicator head extending at the opposite side of the feeler toe or point to indicate the presence of filling beyond the points Where the detector head and feeler toe act and to tilt the detector when it fails to be tilted by the detector head and there yet remains a Working supply of filling on the carrier.

7. A feeler motion for filling replenishing looms, comprising, in combination, a'feeler slide having a feeler toe or point constructed and arranged to contact with and sink into the filling on a carrier, a detector-having a detector head at one side of the feeler toe or point to contact With the filling on the carrier and tilt the detector when the feeler toe has sunk into the filling, and an indicator head having an inclined edge and extending at the opposite side of the feeler toe or point to indicate the presence of filling beyond the points where-the detector head and -feeler toe act and to tilt the detector when. it fails to begtilted by the detector head and there yet remains a working supply of filling on the carrier.

8. In adevice of the character described, the combination ofa feeler'slidehaving a feeler. toe, and a detector pivotally mounted 20nthe slide and having a head pr'ovided atone side of the feeler toe with a straight edge at the opposite-side of said feeler wit an inclined edge." 9. In a feeler notion-for filling replenishing looms, thecombination of a feeler hav ing an end or tee, a detector adjacent said end or toe and adapted to be moved by the filling on the carrier when the end or toe sinks into said filling a predetermined amount, and means acting at a point beyond the detector and adapted to move said detector when it fails to' be moved by the filling adjacent thereto and there yet remains a Working supply of filling at a point beyond the detector.

10. In a feeler motion, the combination of a feeler slide 8 having a toe or end 19 adapted to sink into the filling when a working supply is on the carrier'opposite thereto, a detector havinga head 28 to contact with the fillingand be moved thereby when the toe or end 19 sinks into the filling, and an in; dicator 29 acting at a point beyond the head 28 ,to indicate the presence of a working supply of filling at said point and adapted to move said detector when a working supply of filling is present at said point and the working supply opposite the head 28 has become exhausted.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I JOHN HENDRY.

Witnesses: PAUL R. CLAY I 'HELEN C. CLAY.

. Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G." 

